Four of nine hopefuls attend candidate forum

More than 50 residents occupied the available seats although
only four of the nine candidates, Laurett Barrentine, Matthew
Crabtree, Bryan Oliver and James Jordan, attended the Oct. 4
candidate forum sponsored by the Englewood Citizens for Open
Government.

Long-time Englewood resident Barb Silverman said she was upset
that all the candidates didn’t attend the forum because she is
interested in community affairs and this was an opportunity to hear
where candidates stood on the issues.

“It would have been better to hear from everyone,” she said.”
The four candidates who were there shared their views and opinions.
Maybe the others didn’t care to do that.”

Although five of the nine chairs set up for the candidates
remained empty, the forum went on as planned. Each candidate had
two minutes to present an opening statement, then Littleton
resident John Watson, who moderated the forum, began asking
questions.

A number of questions had been prepared in advanced by members
of Englewood Citizens for Open Government and were sent to
candidates ahead of time. Each of the prepared questions was asked
to a single candidate, moving from candidate to candidate as they
were seated.

The prepared questions were on a number of current issues such
as property rights, bringing new businesses to the city and dealing
with the budget.

Crabtree drew applause and a few laugh when, in response to a
question about the definition of a balanced budget, his answer was,
“That’s simple. Just don’t spend more than the revenues you
receive.”

When asked the biggest question facing Englewood in the next 10
years, Barrentine’s answer was “money.” She elaborated by saying
the current moratoriums have a strangle hold on existing businesses
and discourages new businesses from locating in Englewood which
means revenues are not growing.

Candidate Jordan said he didn’t favor cutting programs to
balance the budget. He said instead, the city should raise funds to
pay for the programs and he said that can be done without raising
taxes.

One question for Oliver was if the city should approach local
businesses first when awarding contracts for city projects.

“The city should check with local businesses to see if they
qualify to do the project and, if they do, then the work should be
done by Englewood companies,” he said.

All the candidates agreed all city financial information,
including an on-line budget, should be available on line and there
should be a balanced budget. There was also agreement the city
council meetings should be televised on Channel 8.

While he didn’t attend the event, candidate Joe Jefferson, who
is unopposed as he seeks re-election, did sent a letter to the
organizers. In the letter read at the start of the forum, Jefferson
stated his position on several issues and stating he was sorry he
couldn’t attend the event but he had previous commitments he could
not change.